Tape dispenser



O. P. ERHARDT TAPE DISPENSER April 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed sept. 4. 1948 April 3, 1951 o. P. ERHARDT 2,547,569

TAPE DISPENSER Filed Sept. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 3, 19151 asiste TAPE DISPENSER 'Y Oscar l. Erhardt, Derby, Conn., assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 4, 1948, Serial No. 47,891

This invention relates to a tap-e dispenser and, more particularly, to a dispenser for use with so-called Scotch tape which is tacky or clingable upon one side.

Such tape ordinarily is sold in rolls, the roll being of relatively large diameter as compared to the width of the tape so that it is in the shape of a relatively flat cylinder. Such rolls are ordinarily sold in a metal package or container and they are usually removed from the container and placed in a dispensing device of some character, so that the tape may be conveniently unwound from the roll and severed or torn off in the desired lengths in which it is to be used.` The most common dispensers: of this type are those which are intended to be mounted or rest upon a table, deslgor other flat surface.

There are, however, certain advantages in a dispenser whichv may be of relatively small size and which will be very little larger than the size of the lroll of tape itself, so that it maybe conveniently held in the hand and the tape dispensed y therefrom.

Also, it is desirable to provide a combined tape package and dispenser, or to provide a package or container in which a rollof tap/e may be placed and sold, the container being provided with a slot or opening through which the tape may be drawn to unwind it from the roll, and also provided with a severing'device by which it may be severed when a suflicientlength has been unwound.

One object of the p-resent invention is to provde a tap-e dispenser of relatively small size and of light weight so that it may be readily held f in the hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape' dispenser of substantially the size and shape of the supply roll of tape so that it will add very little to the size of the latter when the4 two are assembled. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape dispenser of the character above de-v scribed which shall have an opening through which the tape may be drawn and a tape-end support adjacent this opening so that a free end of the tape may cling to this support and project from the case of the dispenser in a position to lbe grasped by the ngers of the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape dispenser of the character just n described which shall be provided with a severing member movably mounted with respect to the tape-end support so that the severing member may be moved to a Aposition in lwhich t'- covers e claims.' (o1. ascq-52)' the support 'and the opening through which the tape emerges, or may be moved to a position in which the openingand the tape-end support are' covered.

IStill another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing case which may be readily held in the hand and within which a roll of tape may be sup-ported, the case being formed of two parts movable relatively to each other a bout an axis at substantially the center of the case, one part of the case being provided with an opening through which the tape may emerge, and a tapeend support adjacent said opening, and the other part of the case being provided with a severing edge which may be moved to a position to cover or expose the opening andL support as desired.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan viewof a dispenser embodying my invention, with some parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectionaly view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the dispenser i shown in Fig. 1; g

Fig. 4 is a `plan View similar to Fig. v1 with some parts removed and the mechanism being shown in the open position assumed when the tape is being dispensed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View similar to Fig. 1 showing the tape being torn off against the edge of the severing member;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of the dispenser; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on line I-l of Fig. 6.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings-a dispenser which comprises a case of substantially the shape and size of a roll of tape. This case consists of two parts, one part it may be considered the bottom of the case, while the part Ii may be considered as the top or cover, and, as will be seen from Fig. 2, the part i6 of the case is designed to telescope into the part i l. The bottom portion is provided with a peripheral flange i2, while the upper part is likewise provided with a flange l 3 the iiange lil lying within the flange i3 when the two parts ci the case are assembled. l

Each part of the case is depressed at its central portion so as to provide an annular internal shoulder lli on the bottom portion i ii and annular internal shoulder iii on the cover li, these two shoulders forming Va lcircular supporting hub for the supply roll I6 of tape. It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that there is sufficient space provided between these annular shoulders and the flanges or peripheral edge portions I2 and I3 to accommodate the supply roll of tape I6 which is wound upon the spool I1.

A pin I8 is secured to the lower portion IB of the oase, which pin projects through an opening I9 in the upper portion or cover and, in order to secure the two parts of the case together, a diskshaped member 2B is pivoted to the cover at 2i and provided with a keyhole slot 22, the edges -oi` which may be received in an annular recess 23 in the pin I8.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3, that when the disk 20 is in the full-line position, the edges of the smaller end of the slot 2?. are received in the groove 23 and the two parts of the case are locked together. However, when this disk is moved to the dotted-line position shown in this figure the end `of the .pin 1:3 will register with the larger end of the keyhole .slot 22 and will pass through this end of the slot so that the cover I I may be readily removed from the lower or bottorn por.- tion il?, Yin order that a new roll of tape maybe inserted.

It will be apparent that, while the two portions of the case are thus detachably secured togetheso that lthey will not accidentally become detached, they are movable or rotatable, one with respect to the other, about the pin .i3 which, shown, is at the center ol 'the case. In order that the operator may hold the device `in one 'hand and readily rotate one part with respect to the other, each portion of the case is Yprovided with a roughened or knul-led surface 2d, so that the parts of the case may be readily grasped by the lingers end rotated when desired. The relative movement of one part of the case with respect to the other is limited, however, to a small angle, by a pin 25 f secured to the Aupper part II, this pin being received in yan arcuate slot 21 yin the bottom portion I5 of the case.

Also, Vmeans may be -provided to normally hold the parts inthe closed position show-n in Fig. l. A'11 In the present instance, this means takes Athe form'of va quadrant 28 -p'ivoted on the -p'in I8, 'this quadrant having an opening to receive the ph 25. The quadrant is mounted ladjacent the bottom portion Iil of the case and is connected to this portion of the case by a spring Sli, one end of which is secured to the quadrant and the other end secured to a'pin 3l on the ybottom port-ion This spring normally urges the quadrant yin a counterclockwise direction with reference to l and the movement of the quadrant in this direction is 'limited by a stop pin 3-.2 secured on the part IS which is received in a recess 33 lin the quadrant. t will be seen, therefore, with this arrangement, that, when the parts are moved relatively to each other from the position shown in Fig. l, the quadrant E8 will ybe Ymoved 'in a clockwise direction until the pin 26 is at Ithe other end of the slot 2l, as shown in Fig. When Athe parts are released, they will be returned to the position shown in Fig. l by the spring '39.

The flange I2 on the cover .of the case is rprovided with a relatively small slot or opening through which the tape may be drawn, vand ,a acent this slot is a radially or outwardly pro-iecting lip 36 which provides a tape-end support 'to which the tacky side or" the tape may cling as shown more especially in Figs. l, e and Adjacent this lip, the ilange I3 yof the .cover is provided with an opening 3l through which the lip 36 may protrude and adjacent one end of this opening the metal of the ange is displaced outwardly, as shown at 38, so that the lip or support 36 may pass under this portion of the flange, as shown in Fig. 1. 'I'he edge of the part 38 is preferably somewhat sharp and serves as a tear off or severing blade against which the tape may be severed, as shown, for example, in Fig. 5.

A cup-shaped cover lll may be secured to the pin I8 by the screw 42, this cover lying within the depressed portion of the section IU of the casing and covering the quadrant 28 and spring 30.

The normal position of the parts of this form vof dispenser is shown in Fig. l, where the free end 3S of the tape is shown as extending from the roll over the lip 36, with which the tacky side of the tape is engaged, and then circumferentially of the case along the lower surface of the severing member 38, the eXtreme edge being substantially flush with the severing edge.

When it is desired to lsecinfo a length of tape Irom the roll, the operator, by holding the dis- .penser ,case in one hand with the thumb on the knurled portion oi one section and the foren-nger on the knurled part of the other section, may rotate one section vrelatively to the other about the pin L8, as permitted by the slot 21 and pin 2 5, from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. In the latter position, it lwill be noted that :the Arniadrant 28 has also been ron ,tated in a clockwise .direction and the spring 3Q placed .under tension. Also, the tape-end snp- .port 36 has been uncovered by the severing device j38 and .the free end 39 of the tape exposed so that it maybe readily .grasped by the fingers.

The free end of the tape is then grasped and pulled outwardly, thus unwinding the tape from .the supply roll 16. When a sufcient length has lbeen drawn from the supply roll, .the parts .of the case are released so that they may be returned to their voriginal position 'by the spring 3E), as shown, for example, in Fig. 5. In this position the tape-end support 35 is again covered by the severing member 3S and. it will be vnoted that there is a 'length of tape between the tapeend support and the severing edge of the member y33 substantially Aequal to the length of the inner surface of the latter. It '-.vill be understood that the tacky side .of the tape is engaged with the 'tape-end support and 'the nontacky side engages the severing member. The tape may now be tor-n off against the extreme edge of the member 38, as shown in Fig. 5.

'In Figs. A6 and 7 of the drawing, I have shown a slightly ymodiecl form .of my invention. The principal difference is that the quadrant 28, spring 39, and associated parts, have been omitted. In this device, the .dispenser comprises a supporting container having the two sections I .and Il as be'ioraarranged to .carry between them the supply roll of tape I6. In this instance, Ythe two parts .or sections `of the case are held together yby the bolt [i5 .so that they may 'be rotated as permitted by the tape-end support c6 on one section of `the case, land Vthe edge l1 lof the ,open- 'ing 48 on the other section, and the shoulder -49 of fthe severing member ,55. The rotation is eiectcd manually in 'both directions, and, instead of knurling the two sections ,of lthe case -as Villustrated inthe previous modication, eac-h sec- ;tion is provided with a raised boss 5I which may be engaged respectively by the thumb and lforenger of the hand Vin which the case is held. Otherwise, the .device is substantially the same .as :illustrated in Figs. 1 to'5 of thedravvings.

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modication and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container for supporting a roll of tape having an opening through which the tape is drawn, a tapeend support carried by the container to which the free end of the tape is adapted to cling, said support projecting outwardly from the container to support the free end of the tape in a position spaced from the container, severing means, and means movably mounting said severing means on the container for movement to and away from a position in which it covers said opening and projects beyond said end support.

2. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container for rotatably holding a roll of tape, said container having an opening through which the tape issues as it is drawn from the roll, a tapeend support carried by the container adjacent said opening to which the tacky side of the tape clings, said support projecting outwardly from the container to support the free end of the tape in a position spaced from the container, a severing member, and means movably mounting said member for movement to and from a position in which it projects beyond said tape-end support and covers said opening.

3. A dispenser as in claim 2 wherein the container comprises two relatively movable sections, the tape-end support being on one section and the severing member being carried on the other section.

4. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container composed of two nesting sections each of said sections being of substantially circular shape and having a peripheral flange, means connecting said sections for relative rotating movementswith the ilange o1 one part lying within the flange of the other, supporting means within the container for rotatably holding a roll of tape, a tape-end support projecting outwardly from one of said sections, and a severing member on the other section lying outwardly of, and normally covering said support.

5. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container composed of two nesting sections each having a fiange, means connecting said sections for relative rotating movements with the flange of one part lying within the flange of the other, supporting means within the container for rotatably holding a roll of tape, the inner ange having an opening thereinto permit the tape to pass therethrough, and a tape-end support adjacent said opening, and the outer flange having a part displaced upwardly to provide a severing member and being movable with its supporting section to positions to cover and uncover said opening and tape-end support.

6. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container composed of two nesting sections each having a flange, means connecting said sections for relative rotating movements with the flange of one part lying within the flange of the other, supporting means within the container for rotatably holding a roll of tape, the inner flange having an opening therein to permit the tape to pass therethrough, a tape-end support adjacent said opening, the outer ange having a part dis- Cil placed upwardly to provide a severing member and being movable with its supporting section to positions to cover and uncover said opening and tape-end support, and a spring normally urging said sections to one of said positions.

7. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container composed of two nesting sections each having a flange, means connecting said sections for relative rotating movements with the flange of one part lying within the flange of the other, supporting means within the container for rotatably holding a roll of tape, the inner flange having an opening therein to permit the tape to pass therethrough, a tape-end support adjacent said opening, the outer flange having a part displaced upwardly to provide a severing member and being movable with its supporting sect-ion to positions to cover and uncoversaid opening and tape-end support, and a spring secured to one of said sections and operatively connected to the other section to urge the latter to the position in which said tape-end support is covered.

- 8. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container composed of a pair of mating sections, each having a circular body portion and a peripheral flange, said sections being adapted to be rotatably secured together with the ange of one lying within the ilange of the other, means within the container to rotatably support a roll of tape, the inner of said flanges having an opening through which the tape may be drawn, a tapeend support adjacent said opening, the outer of said flanges having an opening within which said tape-,end supporting member is disposed, a severing member displaced outwardly from the body of the flange, said severing member being adapted in one position to cover said opening and said tape-end supporting member, and spring means for urging said member to said position.

9. A Scotch-tape dispenser comprising a container compo-sed of a pair of mating sections, each having a circular body portion and a peripheral ilange, said sections being adapted to be rotatably secured together with the flange of one lying Within the flange of the other, means within the container to rotatably support a roll of tape,

the inner of said flanges having an openingy through which the tape may be drawn, a tapeend support adjacent said opening, the outer of said flanges having an opening within which said tape-end supporting member is disposed, a severing member displaced outwardly from the body of the flange, said severing member being adapted in one position to cover said opening and said tape-end supporting member, and spring means for urging said member to said position, said severing member being rotatable to position to uncover said tape-end support and thereby leave exposed a free end of the tape to be grasped by the operator.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,354 VHarper May 25, 1886 1,866,370 Pottern July 5, 1932` 2,080,052 Lemaster May 11, 1937 2,447,519 Marinsky Aug. 24, 1948 

